World Chess Cup 2009

Total prize fund of USD 1,600,000

The 2009 World Chess Cup, an integral part of the World Championship Cycle 2009-2011, will take place in Khanty Mansiysk from 20th November to 15th December. The tournament once again is a knock out event with 128 players. There shall be six (6) rounds of matches comprising two (2) games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round, plus the final seventh (7th) round comprising of four (4) games. The time control shall be 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one.

If the scores are level after the regular games, after a new drawing of colours, two tie break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes on the clock for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move. If the scores are level after the games in paragraph 3. 8. 1, then, after a new drawing of colours, 2 five-minute games shall be played with the addition of 10 seconds after each move. If the score is still level, the players shall play one decisive sudden death game. The player, who wins the drawing of lots, may choose the colour. White shall receive 6 minutes, Black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared as winner.

For the purpose of deciding the 20 rated player qualifiers, as well as any replacements, the average from the following lists will be used; rating of July 2008 plus rating of January 2009 divided by 2. In case of equality two decimals will be taken into consideration. If the numbers are still equal then the number of games from the two periods shall be decisive. That means the player with the greater number of games shall qualify. If the numbers are still equal then the April 2009 list shall be decisive. If the Elo in this list is still the same, the player with the greater number of games in this list will qualify.

It is very probable that Anand and Kamsky decline participation as they are already qualified for the next World Championship cyclce. This is why there are special rules for the replacements. World Champion, semi-finalists of the World Cup 2007, Women’s World Champion, World Junior U-20 Champion and rated players can be replaced only from the average rating list. Continental and Zonal qualifiers will be replaced from their respective events, except that in the Zonal Tournament, the replacement must have scored 50% or more in the Zonal event. Otherwise the place passes to the Continental Championship. The average rating list has priority if a player qualifies either from the rating list or a zonal/continental event.

World Cup 2009 pairings

For purposes of pairings the players shall be ranked according to the most recent rating list. In case of equality of two or more players, the player with the greater number of games played during the period covered by the list shall be higher seeded. In case of equal number, the order will be decided by the drawing of lots. Pairings shall follow the principle of top half vs. lower half reversed (1-128, 2-127…). Thus the highest ranked player of the top half shall play the lowest ranked player of the bottom half. The second ranked player of the top half shall play the penultimate ranked player of the bottom half.

Prize fund

Round 1 losers: 64 x USD 6,000

Round 2 losers: 32 x USD 10,000

Round 3 losers: 16 x USD 16,000

Round 4 losers: 8 x USD 25,000

Round 5 losers: 4 x USD 35,000

Round 6 losers: 2 x USD 50,000

Runner-up: 1 x USD 80,000

World Cup winner: 1 x USD 120,000

Total prize fund: USD 1 600 000

Note: According to the FIDE regulation 3.9.2 “A payment of 20% from the above prize fund shall be made to FI­DE.”